According to Phil Kirkbridge of the Liverpool Echo, Cuco Martina is ‘close to return’ from a knee injury that he suffered ‘in training’ over the summer. The 30-year-old has been out of action since August, but he’s nearing a recovery and should be back playing for the u23s soon.
Martina was expected to leave ahead of the 2019/20 campaign after falling down the pecking order under Marco, but his injury ruled him out of securing a move away. The January transfer window will present the defender with another opportunity to leave, but whether he’ll find a suitor remains to be seen.
Since joining from Southampton in July 2017, Martina has gone on to make 28 appearances in all competitions. His last outing in an Everton shirt came in their 2-1 defeat to Burnley (March 3, 2018), but the Curacao international hasn’t featured ever since.
Should Everton offload Cuco Martina in January?
Yes
No
Martina finds himself behind Djibril Sidibe & Seamus Colman in the right-back pecking order while Lucas Digne & Leighton Baines are ahead of the 30-year-old at left-back. He’s been out in the cold for more than 18 months and needs to seek a move away at the earliest opportunity.